Writer’s Block?

Get a Habit

It Happens.

I am often asked if I ever get writer’s block, and the truth is of course I do.  Every writer does at some point or other I would imagine; even the greats.  However there are ways to help alleviate it, and perhaps prevent it happening as frequently.

Become Habitual.

Firstly as a matter of routine I tend to write something every day.  Now being in my position affords me the luxury to do this, simply because I have usually generated enough work to keep me going.  However, there are times when the work dries out, and in the early days there were many weeks without any paying projects at all.  There is no trick to it; all that’s required is to write something down each day.  This can be a reflective log, similar to a diary, or perhaps a letter to someone you may never send.  Eventually you will find yourself editing what you have written as a matter of habit.  This is a good thing, and as Raymond Carver would say, you know when you’ve finished when you find yourself taking out commas and putting them back in again.  Carver is an old favourite American short story writer who is sadly no longer offering the world his enlightening snapshots of American life.

Create a Fiction Habit.

A nice little exercise to keep your fiction juices flowing is one I learnt many years ago in University from a young lecturer who had recently completed a masters degree in Creative Writing.

·         Think of ten items.  Each one must fit in your hand.

·         Now imagine them in a bag.

·         Now write down the type of person that would be carrying them.

·         Describe the type of person you think would have these items.

·         Describe what they are doing with the bag of items and perhaps where they are going.

Before long you find yourself developing a character and the beginnings of a plot.  I do not consider this as a basis for the next “bright book of life” as D. H. Lawrence would have it, but it is good to keep your hand in.

Self Indulgence.

Try and avoid self indulgence.  Even if you are writing what has happened in your day, or that letter to someone you may never send, try to imagine that someone else is going to read it.  This will make you show off a little and write for an audience.  If you want to write you must always consider an audience.  If you are just trying to develop a habit then do not worry about who your audience is, just concern yourself with the fact that eventually you will have one.   However, this should not prevent you from writing anything down, just make a habit of ensuring it is readable, understandable and interesting in a very basic way.

Research.

If you have an idea, even the smallest of ideas, expand it.  Google it, or talk to someone about it, or look it up in a book; anything.  Just do not let it go.  Again, this can be anything; it doesn’t matter because it’s the practice you should concern yourself with.  I sometimes sit and write articles that will never be published, simply because I thought about something and decided to write.  Research is the foundation of any good piece of written work, no matter how basic.  Doing a little research often, is another good habit.

Keep a Journal.

Sometimes ideas for articles and fiction will come in the most unusual places.  Keep a journal at all times.  As ridiculous as it sounds, do not keep a tiny pocket book.  More often than not it becomes difficult to write in them in any detail, and this is uninspiring.  I often carry around an A5 size hardback book that is ring bound for easy writing; there is nothing worse than trying to hold a book open while you try and write.

Add everything to your journal.  This can be: a sketch, a photo, a conversation had with someone, a memory, an idea, a letter, a magazine cutting.  Stick them all in the journal and read it at the end of each day or week, depending on your time management.  Remember a writer will use anything!  You will find that this is also a good habit.

Bite Size Pieces.

If your block is coming from a large project, as simple as it sounds, break it up.  If this is a book then do it chapter by chapter.  Make a plan of what you want to include in each chapter, or paragraph of a smaller brief, and write the plan.  Come back to the plan later, or the next day and do one of the pieces.

Try Something New.

If you are still having trouble writing what you want then try something drastic.  Do something else.  If you have been writing a children’s story, try your hand at some teenage or adult fiction.  If you have been writing a crime novel, try a horror; you may even find a new genre that suits you even better.  In fiction it can also be very surprising when you change form (short story, novella, novel) or narrative perspective.  I wrote three chapters of a novel before realising that it wasn’t working in the first person; the rest has been going quite nicely since I changed to the third person.  When it comes to articles, write on another subject or perhaps in a completely different style.  This needn’t be long term; remember it is only designed to break your block and develop good writing habits.

Don’t Stop Writing!